The renewable-energy sector was supposed to be the driving force which stimulated the economy out of the recession and created jobs. However, the administration never discussed the short-term impacts, if any, that this driving force would have on the economy or job creation.
Absent from the Obama Administration’s last $50 billion dollar economic-stimulus package, which focused mostly on infrastructure building such as roads, transit and airports, was talk about how many new and green jobs this package would generate.
And the Administration has been pretty silent on the lack of interest by the private sector – at least here in the States. According to the Washington Times, only $20 billion of the allotted funds available through the early 2009 $814 billion dollars stimulus funds, have actually gone to green projects.
And while 82,000 had been created through these green projects, the piece further states that as much as 80 percent of some green programs, including $2.3 billion of manufacturing tax credits, went to either purchase inexpensive Chinese wind turbines or to foreign firms that employed workers primarily in countries outside the U.S., including China, South Korea and Spain.
Meanwhile across America, local governments, community colleges and non-profits have begun training workers, including many in the welfare to work, ex-offender and unemployment instructional programs, for jobs which might or might not be there upon their completion.
According to The American Prospect, many of these training programs have had trouble building strong relationships with industry partners in this frugal economy. The end result is that there is little difference in earnings and the chances of being rehired between laid-off people, who had been retrained and those who had not.
Even green ventures themselves are struggling. The American Wind Energy Association has noted that the industry as whole has lost about 1,500 manufacturing jobs in 2009. Most recently is wind-turbine maker Suzlon Group, who announced that it would idle its Pipestone, Minnesota plant, which will affect 110 workers.
Moreover the Association projects that turbine installations will continue to drop as about 40 or so wind-power facilities are currently operating below capacity. And as production slows, so does the demand for wind technicians and other skilled laborers.
Even skilled union workers are feeling the shut out in the green industry. Recently, the United Steelworkers filed a complaint with U.S. trade officials charging that China has used “hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies and other trade-illegal activities to advance its domination of the sector.”
And if card carrying union members aren’t able to strong-arm their share of the green pie, than what is the likelihood that there will be a great demand for the rest of us?
So after many months of talk about – and dollars being spent on – the potential for green energy growth, is the idea itself dead in the water? Not necessarily. Obama’s energy plan will likely be the answer for the long-term solution. As the cost for oil increases, making it harder for folks to fuel their cars, heat their homes and pay more for groceries, the demand for cheaper alternatives will happen. And when the demand shifts, it will be important to have a qualified workforce ready to respond.
However, no telling when the market, including the supply and the demand, will fully embrace renewable energy sources. And when it does, there is still relevant questions as to if renewable sources will be a job creator for those who are currently locked out of the job market, or just a tax write-off for companies and governments, which only use foreign companies or high quality labor practices and agreements.
Folks need jobs, not job training. At this point, it wouldn’t matter if these jobs were green, purple, yellow, red or rainbow bright, just as long as folks get back to work.
Charing Ball is the author of the blog People, Places & Things.
